ID: 53302
Title: Understanding heterogeneity in metropolitan Indian: The added value of remote sensing data for analyzing sub-standard residential areas
Author: Isa Baud, Monika Kuffer, Karin pfeffer, Richard Sliuzas, Sadasivam Karuppannan
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Urban deprivations, Sub-standard residential areas, Remote sensing, Visual image interpretation
Abstract: Analyzing the heterogeneity in metropolitan areas of India utilizing remote sensing data can help to identify more precise patterns of sub-standard residential areas. Earlier work analyzing inequalities in Indian cities employed a constructed index of multiple deprivations (IMDs) utilizing data from the Census of India 2001 (http://censusindia.gov.in). While that index, described in an earlier paper, provided a first appraoch to identify heterogeneity at the citywide scale, it neither provided information on spatial variations within the geographical boundaries of the Census database, nor about physical characteristics, such as green spaces and the variation in housing density and quality. In this article, we analyze whether different types of sub-standard residential areas can be identified through remote sensing data, combined, where relevant, with ground-truthing and local knowledge. The specific questions address: (1) the extent to which types of residential sub-standard areas can be drawn from remote sensing data, based on patterns of green space, structure of layout, density of built-up area, size of buildings and other site characteristics; (2) the spatial diversity of these residential types for selected electoral wards; and (3) the correlation between different types of sub-standard residential areas and the results of the index of multiple deprivations utilized at electoral ward level found previously. The results of a limited number of test wards in Delhi showed that it was possible to extract different residential types matching existing settlement categories using the physical indicators structure of layout, built-up density, building size and other site characteristics. However, the indicator ' amount of green spaces ' was not useful to identify informal areas. The analysis of heterogeneity showed that wards with higher IMD scores displayed more or less the full range of residential types, implying that visual image interpretation is able to zoom in on clusters of deprivation of varying size. Finally, the visual interpretation of the diversity of residential types matched the results of the IMD analysis quite well, although the limited number of test wards would need to be expanded to strengthen this statement. Visual image analysis strengthens the robustness of the IMD, and in addition, gives a better idea of the degree of heterogeneity in deprivations within a ward.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53301
Title: Remote detection of bare soil moisture using a surface-temperature -based soil evaporation transfer coefficient
Author: Shaohua Zhao, Yonghui Yang, Guoyu Qiu, Qiming Qin, Yunjun Yao, Yujiu Xiong, Chunqiang Li
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Remote sensing, Energy balance equation, Regional maximum temperature, MODIS
Abstract: An approach for estimating soil moisture is presented and tested by using surface-temperature-based soil evaporation transfer coefficient (ha), a coefficient recently proposed through the equation ha = (Ts -Ta)/(Tsd -Ta), where Ts ,Tsd, and Ta are land surface temperature (LST), reference soil (dry soil without evaporation) surface temperature, and air temperature respectively. Our analysis and control-label experiment indicated that ha closely related to soil moisture, and therefore , a relationship between field soil moisture and ha could be developed for soil moisture estimation. Field experiments were carried out to test the relationship between ha and soil moisture. Time series Aqua-MODIS images were acquired between 11 Sep. 2006 and 1 Nov. 2007. Then, MODIS derived ha and simultaneous measured soil moisture for different soil depths were used to establish the relations between the two variables. Results showed that there was a logarithmic relationship between soil moisture and ha (P<0.01). These logarithmic models were further validated by introducing another ground-truth data gathered from 46 meteorological stations in Hebei Province. Good agreement was observed between the measured adn estimated soil moisture with RMSE of 0.0374 cm3/ cm3 and 0.0503 cm3/cm3 for surface energy balance method at two soil depths (10 cm and 20 cm), with RMSE of 0.0467cm3/ cm3 and 0.0581 cm3/ cm3 for maximum temperature method at two soil depths. For vegetated surfaces, the ratio of ha and NDVI suggested to be considered. The proposed approach has a great potential for soil moisture and drought evaluation by remote sensing.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53300
Title: Landslide susceptibility zonation through ratings derived from Artificial Neural Network
Author: Shivani Chauhan, Mukta Sharma, M.K.Arora, N.K.Gupta
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Artificial Neural Network, Landslide susceptibility, Remote sensing
Abstract: In the present study, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been implemented to derive ratings of categories of causative factors, which are then integrated to produce a landslide susceptibility zonation map in an objective manner. The results have been evaluated with an ANN based black box approach for Landslide Susceptibility Zonation (LSZ) proposed earlier by the authors. Seven causative factors, namely, slope, slope aspect, relative relief, lithology, structural features (e.g. thrusts and faults), landuse landcover, and drainage density, were placed in 42 categories for which ratings were determined. The results indicate that LSZ map based on ratings derived from ANN performs exceedingly better than that produced from were in close agreement with actual landslide areas in the field.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53299
Title: Spatial dependency of cholera prevalence on potential cholera reservoirs in an urban area, Kumasi, Ghana
Author: Frank B. Osei, Alfred A Duker, Ellen-Wien Augustijn, Alfred Stein
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Cholera, Vibrios, Runoff, Dumpsites, Reservoir, Fecal, Spatial regression
Abstract: Cholera has been a public health burden in Ghana since the early 1970s. Between 1999 and 2005, a total of 25,636 cases and 620 deaths were officially reported to the WHO. In one of the worst affected urban cities, fecal contamination of surface water is extremely high, and the disease is reported to be prevalent among inhabitants living in close proximity to surface water bodies. Surface runoff from dump sites is a major source of fecal and bacterial contamination of rivers and streams in the study area. This study aims to determine (a) the impacts of surface water contamination of surface water is extremely high, and the disease is reported to be prevalent among inhabitants living in close proximity to surface water bodies. Surface runoff from dump sites is a major source of fecal and bacterial contamination of rivers and streams in the study area. This study aims to determine (a) the impacts of surface water contamination on cholera infection and (b) detect and map arbitrary shaped clusters of cholera. A Geographic Information System (GIS) based spatial analysis is used to delineate potential reservoirs of the cholera vibrios; possibly contaminated by surface runoff from open space refuse dumps. Statistical modeling using OLS model reveals a significant negative association between (a) cholera prevalence and proximity to all the potential cholera reservoirs (R2=0.18, p<0.001) and (b) cholera prevalence and proximity to upstream potential cholera reservoirs (R2 = 0.25, p<0.001). The inclusion of spatial autoregressive coefficients in the OLS model reveals the dependency of the spatial distribution of cholera prevalence on the spatial neighbors of the communities. A flexible scan statistic identifies a most likely cluster with a higher relative risk (RR = 2.04, p<0.01) compared with the cluster detected by circular scan statistic (RR=1.60, p<0.01). We conclude that surface water pollution through runoff from waste dump sites play a significant role in cholera infection.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53298
Title: Spatial rules that generate urban patterns: Emergence of the power law in the distribution of axial line length
Author: Hani Rezayan, Mahmoud Reza Delavar, Andrew Ulrich Frank, A. Mansouri
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Emergence, Power law, Axial representation, Axial line, Axial map
Abstract: This paper studies emergence/generation of power law in rank-order distribution of axial line length, which is a global pattern observed in real cities, due to interaction of a set of seven simple spatial rules at a local scale. These rules and their interactions form a model expected to simulate the morphological structure of free spaces in unplanned organic pedestrian small cities. Effects of each of the seven rules are discussed through repeated simulations of eight possible combinations of the rules, using a bottom-up process. The results show that the rules generate environments with statistically stable rank-order distribution of axial line length that follows the power law. It means that the axial maps of the simulated environments have a scale -free hierarchical structure such that their distributions lean toward short aixal lines. It also represents dominance of local spatial structure, as the model renders a faster rate of growth at a local scale while allowing a steady growth at a global scale.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53297
Title: Environmental sensor networks for vegetation, animal and soil sciences
Author: A. Zerger, R.A. Viscarra Rossel, D.L.Swain, T.Wark, R.N.Handcock, V.A.J.Doerr, G.J.Bishop-Hurley, E.D.Doerr, P.G.Gibbons, C.Lobsey
Editor: Alfred Stein
Year: 2010
Publisher: Elsevier, Vol 12, issue 5, October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Keywords: Environmental sensor networks, vegetation, animals, soil, review
Abstract: Environmental sensor networks (ESNs) provide new opportunities for improving our understanding of the environment. In contrast to remote sensing technologies where measurements are made from large distances (e.g satellite imagery, aerial photography, airborne radiometric surveys), ESNs focus on measurements that are made in close proximity to the target environmental phenomenon. Sensors can be used to collect a much larger number of measurements, which are quantitative and repeatable. They can also be deployed in locations that may otherwise be difficult to visit regularly. Sensors that are commonly used in the environmental sciences include ground-based multispectral vegetation sensors. Soil moisture sensors, GPS tracking and bioacoustics for tracking movement in wild and domesticated animals. Sensors may also be coupled with wireless networks to more effectively capture, synthesis and transmit data to decision-makers. The climate and weather monitoring domains provide useful examples of how ESNs can provide real-time monitoring of environmental change (e.g temperature, rainfall, sea-surface temperature) to many users. The objective of this review is to examine state-of-the-art use of ESNs for three environmental monitoring domains:(a) terrestrial vegetation, (b) animal movement and diversity, and (c) soil. Climate and aquatic monitoring sensor applications are so extensive that they are beyond the scope of this review. In each of the three application domains (vegetation, animals and soils) we review the technologies, the attributes that they sense and briefly examine the technical limitations. We conclude with a discussion of future directions.
Location: 231
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53296
Title: Phsical and Chemical Methods in Soil Analysis: Fundamental Concepts of Analystical Chemistry and Instrumental Techniques, Second Edition
Author: None
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53295
Title: Floristics and dry matter dynamics of tropical wet evergreen forests of Western Ghats, India
Author: S.L.Swamy, C.B.S. Dutt, M.S.R.Murthy, Alka Mishra and S.S.Bargali
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Biomass, compartment model, litterfall, net primary productivity, tropical evergreen forest, Western Ghats
Abstract: Floristic composition, structure, diversity, biomass, litterfall and net primary productivity (NPP) of tropical evergreen forests on four contiguous hill ranges of Western Ghats, India were studied. The forest on the study site was analysed by randomly laying eight quadrats (20m X 20m) within each representative plot of 1 ha. Biomass of the tree and shrub components was estimated using species-specific allometric equations. The litter input was quantified by placing three litter traps (50 cm x 50 cm x 15 cm) in each quadrat. The net biomass accumulation was computed and compared among the sites studied. The stand density ranged from 257 to 644 individuals ha-1 and basal area between 29 and 42 m2 ha-1. Shannon and Simpon ' s indices ranged from 1.5 to 3.7 and 0.1 to 0.16 respectively, and with beta diversity of 2.01. Total stand biomass averaged from 440 to 571 Mg ha-1, of which trees contributed 90.2-92.2% and ramaining 8.8-9.8% by shrubs and herbs. The standing litter ranged from 3.5 to 4.2 Mg ha-1 and litter production from 4.0 to 5.7 Mg ha-1 yr-1. The average NPP was 23.7 Mg ha-1yr-1, of which 64.7% was contributed by trees, 13.6% by shrubs, 2.7% herbs and 19.1% by litter. Turnover rate and turnover time ranged from 0.93 to 0.95 yr-1 and 1.05 to 1.08 yrs respectively. The study showed that tropical evergreen forests in Brahamagiri and Kadmakal ranges of Western Ghats are ecologically rich both in terms of structure and biomass production compared to other tropical rain forests of the world, however Padnailkannad and Pattighat sites were severely affected by biotic stresses which demand attention for conservation and management of these fragile ecosystems.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53294
Title: Bird ' s feather lineation-discovery of a new type of linear structure in calc-silicate rocks of Sheopura-Kesarpura mine area near Beawar, Rajasthan, India
Author: B.S.Paliwal
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53293
Title: Unique mating behaviour of Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) in the Gir Forest, Gujarat
Author: V. Meena
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53292
Title: Monitoring the Indian tropical carbon flux- need for a holistic approach
Author: Ramesh Kumar Ningthoujam
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53291
Title: Role of Integrated Watershed Management Programme in controllling erosion and reclaming wastelands in India
Author: P.K.Naik
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53290
Title: India ' s highest biogas plant commissioned at Leh-Ladakh
Author: S. Acharya, S.B.Mustafa, B. Prakash, S.B.Singh
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 3, 10 August 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53289
Title: A 3D fire spread model implementing vegetation combustion applicable to mountainous forest fires
Author: Boboulos Miltiadis A
Editor: Dr. Shankar Gargh
Year: 2010
Publisher: Disaster Advances, Vol 3(3), July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Disaster Advances
Keywords: Fire behaviour, deterministic modelling, surface spread, vegetation decomposition, particle oxidation, combustion gas emission
Abstract: Biomass combustion can be modelled on the governing equations of mass conservation both for the gaseous phase and the solid fuel. Current modelling examined the applicability of various chemical reactiosn describing dense surface layer combustion, the production of volatiles, char and tar and their subsequent oxidation. It employed an analytical five-step chemical reaction mechanism EDM+Kinetics to describe the mixing effect and the chemical reactions. Applying the litter combustion model into a realistic 3D domain implemented the vegetation combustion mechanisms producing behaviour accounting. The process can be evaluated on the characteristics and the range of its main parameters-temperature field and its distribution, velocity field, the biomass energy contents and products, measured on the basis of expert knowledge. Numerical results were compared to integral methods such as fire behaviour prediction nomographs and controlled field experiments. The modelling was enhanced with model adjustments in the constants and boundary conditions implementing TGA results, experimental spread rates and IR camera measurements. The model determines the concentration of gas components in the fire zone in order to establish their effects on environment for various fire intensities and scale, the temperature-fluid flow distribution and flame characteristics.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53288
Title: Latest developments of Windshear alerting services at the Hong Kong International Airport
Author: Chan P.W
Editor: Dr. Shankar Gargh
Year: 2010
Publisher: Disaster Advances, Vol 3(3), July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Disaster Advances
Keywords: HongKong Airport, Windshear, LIDAR alerting system, Turbulence, Aircraft bumping
Abstract: Low-level windshear and turbulence are known to cause hazard to the operation of the aircraft. During the operation of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in the last 10 years or so, the detection and alerting of low-level windshear has been continuously enhanced by the Hong Kong observatory, including the introduction of sophisticated instrumentation and detection algorithms to alert pilots of the presence of low-level windshear and the use of more objective data in the development and verification of the windshear alerting services. This paper summarizes these development efforts in the recent years.
On the detection side, following the deployment of two LIDARs, one for each of the two runways, the LIDAR Windshear Alerting System (LIWAS) has been enhanced for th alerting fo windshear over the departure runway corridors in addition to the arrival runway corridors. A microwave radiometer has also been set up at the airport to detect temperature changes in the boundary layer of the atmosphere in association with terrain-disrupted airflow. Moreover, a short-range LIDAR is being tested in the detection of small-scale wind disturbances arising from buildings at the airport. Studies are also conducted in the calculation of turbulence intensity metric based on LIDAR and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) data. On the data collection side, sophisticated algorithm hasbeen developed in collaboration with the National Aerospace Laboratory in the Netherlands in the processing of Quick Access Recorder (QAR) data from commercial jets in establishing a more objective database of windshear and turbulence based on the flight data.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None